Quote: I'm not sure if I wasn't clear or no one really wants to answer. Maybe it's not a fair question given the million different scenario's.

I know that getting out of the situation is always the best option. I hope most people know that by now.

What is your bread and butter technique(s)?

Most people get really good at a handful of techniques even though they may "know" 600.

What would be your best unarmed weapon that is TKD based.

If you're looking for the simple answer that can be applied in a variety of scenarios (accept for possibly life threatening), then I would have to say a "Stun & Strike". A quick low snap kick to the shin or a hard slap to the face for the stun with a nice hard palm heel strike to the nose, which at minimal will tear up the eyes and at worse break the nose causing enough pain and disorientation to make a get away. But again, depending on the situation. It really is hard to say !

Quote: I'm not sure if I wasn't clear or no one really wants to answer. Maybe it's not a fair question given the million different scenario's.

I know that getting out of the situation is always the best option. I hope most people know that by now.

What is your bread and butter technique(s)?

Most people get really good at a handful of techniques even though they may "know" 600.

What would be your best unarmed weapon that is TKD based.

I believe that question was answered already, no? In that case; side kick or low front snap kick to the shins and a punch to the nose/mouth. You have to look into the environment and setting of the place. Most of the time you'll find yourself using even the most simplest yet effective techniques.

Quote:Your 3200 figure brings to mind a question. Do you think it's necessarily better to have so many options to draw from when your in a high pressure situation like SD? The reason why I ask is that I've seen hapkido instructors who also claims to teach "thousands" of techniques useful for SD. Many of these techniques are probably useful, but I am forced to wonder how many them you'll really need.

I would have to agree with this and why I earlier stated; "I think anything that has to happen has to be with basics; nothing fancy."

However, I think it is good to know many things and have many tools in your tool box as some of those tools you have have use for but when it all boils down to things; the basics are what work and why they are continually trained by all over and over.

_________________________"IF I COME ... I'M BRINGING THE PAIN WITH ME"

Most people get really good at a handful of techniques even though they may "know" 600.

What would be your best unarmed weapon that is TKD based.

I think for almost any striking art the answer is most likely the forefist punch. Some prefer maybe palm strikes, or finger tips and develop them in such a way as to be as effective for them as a forefist punch. However the bottom line is that a linear technique with a hard striking tool is the most basic and most important attack.

For me I would always use the forefist punch. I would like to think that I would have enough accuracy to hit the throat or, solar plexus or temple of an attacker, I know that this may not be the case, and so a hard tool like the forefist is perfect, because it will still cause significant pain and damage to harder targets. It is also how I spar, I use gloves and rarely use anything except straight punches and short hooks. Of course there are plenty of other perfectly viable techniques that one could use, but what I end up using when I spar are hooks and straight punches, so I expect this is how I would defend myself.

At the same time, I think the most important thing about self defense, leaving technique aside for the moment, is a burst of aggression and explosiveness that allows you to become the attacker rather than your opponent. Sometimes, I don't think it is possible to think about using control to not maim your attacker, your primary concern should simply be to stop the threat that they pose. And if you are actually needing to use your self defense, then you are probably in considerable danger since de-escalation has not worked.